A kenning is a figurative expression that replaces a name or a noun. Often it is a compound of two words and the words are hyphenated. Kennings are usually associated with Old Norse, Icelandic, and Anglo Saxon poetry.

Modern Examples of Kennings

Ankle-biter = a very young child

Bean counter = a CPA or accountant

Bookworm = someone who reads a lot

Brown noser = person who does anything to gain approval

Fender bender = slight car accident

First Lady - wife of the president

Four-eyes = someone who wears glasses

Head twister = owl

Hot potato = something no one wants

Mind-reader = A person who knows what you are thinking

Motor mouth = person who talks a lot and/or fast

Pencil pusher = person with a clerical job

Pig-skin = a football

Postman chaser = dog

Rug rat = toddler or crawling baby

Show-stopper = performance receiving long applause

Tree hugger = an environmentalist

Tree swinger = monkey

Tummy slider = penguin

Kennings Related to Weather

Boreas's burning = snow blindness

Elf-glory = the sun

Feather's fall = falling snow

Frozen road = ice-covered river

Northern kiss = cold wind

Ship of night = the moon

Sky-candle = sun

Sky's black cloak = nightfall

Thor's laughter = thunder

Weather of wolves = harsh winter

White death = killed by an avalanche

Winter's blade = cold wind

Winter's blanket = snow

Winter spear = icicle

Kennings Related to Battle

Battle metal = weapons

Battle-sweat = blood

Black song = reaver's war cry

Blood-ember = axe

Bone-beak = axe

Dew of slaughter = blood

Feeding the eagle = killing enemies

Light-of-battle = sword

Mind's worth = honor

Toast of ravens = blood

Traveling the Hel road = dying

War needles = arrows

Weather of weapons = large-scale battle

Wound-hoe = sword

Kennings Related to People

Bear shirt = berserker (Norse warrior)

Bringer of rings = chieftain or king

Children of battle = soldiers

Feller of the life-webs = slayer

Feeder of eagles/ravens = warrior

Fire beater = smith

Forseti's favored = diplomat

Girl of the houses = wife

Lord of laughter = composer, poet or Norse god Loki

Ring giver = chief

Rune caller = wizard

Shield-gnawer = berserker (Norse warrior)

Slayer of giants = Thor

Miscellaneous Kennings

Balder's gift = mistletoe

Bane of wood = fire

Branches of fjord = ship

Dragon's bile = poison

Draught of giants = sudden realization

Forseti's failure = unjust decisions

Frigg's lapse = mistletoe

Lindworm claws = skates

Mimir's warning = prophecy of doom

Mind's worth = honor

Odin's furrows = runes

Ribs of Ull = skis

Ring-rich = a generous person

Serpent's lair = gold

Sindri's gift = wealth

Strong brew = mistletoe as an ingredient

Uncut thread = destiny to be fulfilled

Wind racers = horses

Wolf's joint = wrist

Ancestor's watch = a stone circle

Green clearing = shaman's gathering place

Swan-road = the sea

Valley-trout = serpent

Wave-swine = ship

Whale-road = the ocean

Whale-way = the sea

As you can see from these examples, kennings have been used, and are still used, as a form of verbal shorthand.

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Examples of Kenning

By YourDictionary

A kenning is a figurative expression that replaces a name or a noun. Often it is a compound of two words and the words are hyphenated. Kennings are usually associated with Old Norse, Icelandic, and Anglo Saxon poetry.